He... He is the King of Heaven, Caesar!
"What?! The King of Heaven... Caesar?"
Someone was momentarily stunned, unable to react.
"King Caesar? That infamous pirate?!"
"It's really him—the legendary great pirate, King Caesar!"
Gasps of disbelief filled the air. Those who recognized the name stared up in shock at the figure floating in mid-air.
"It's really that Heavenly King Caesar!"
"A pirate who dares to challenge the Navy head-on... Hahaha! This is amazing! Go, King! Destroy this wretched country!"
As the realization spread, wild laughter erupted. None of them had expected that, in their nation's direst moment, such a formidable pirate would appear.
Everyone knew that the man standing before them wasn't just any pirate—he was the captain of the Caesar Pirates, a crew feared as one of the strongest in the New World.
And the man hovering above them, exuding an almost divine presence, was their leader—the one known as the King of Heaven.
Seeing their reactions, Caesar smiled. He extended his arms, his presence amplified by a crackling electromagnetic field that resonated through the sky.
"I heard what happened to you all. I felt your despair!"
"So... let me show you the way forward."
At those words, the people locked in sorrow and desperation turned their eyes toward him.
"A way forward? What path could there possibly be in a land like this?"
"What could a pirate know about saving a country? Are we supposed to join them?"
Caesar's expression remained composed as he spoke his next words, his voice carrying an undeniable authority.
"As long as you... acknowledge me as your king, pledge your loyalty to my family, and stand as the new royal lineage of this nation..."
"Then I... shall erase this kingdom's current rulers—those corrupt, brutal nobles and their false monarchy!"
"I will return the sky to its rightful brightness!"
"And if you swear fealty to me and my rule..."
"In the name of King Caesar, I promise—I will bring new hope to this land and its people!"
"A life better than even that of Dressrosa!"
The name Dressrosa carried weight.
Gilmanda Island was near that famed kingdom—a thousand-year-old nation that was well-known in this part of the world. Though its people were not wealthy, they lived in peace.
Hearing Caesar's words, the crowd exchanged uneasy glances. Doubt flickered in their eyes.
They had heard of Dressrosa's prosperity. They longed for such a life.
But Caesar was a pirate. The world had been tormented by pirates for centuries. Even those who did not actively oppress civilians carried the stigma of lawless brigands.
For generations, pirates had brought nothing but suffering.
No one had any reason to trust one now.
Besides, most of them had long abandoned hope that this country could ever change.
Caesar, however, remained unfazed. He hovered silently above them, watching their reactions with a knowing look.
Of course, they wouldn't trust him immediately.
That was precisely why he had staged this spectacle—to claim the throne through overwhelming presence.
The golden sunlight streamed behind him, outlining his figure with an almost divine radiance.
At that moment, a voice rose from the crowd.
"King Caesar... are you serious?"
Hope is a stubborn thing. Even in the deepest despair, some will reach for the smallest chance at salvation.
And that was precisely what Caesar was counting on.
A smirk played on his lips. A faint pulse of Conqueror's Haki rippled from his body, sweeping over the gathered masses.
A powerful, intangible force pressed down on them—a presence that was absolute, unshakable.
"I... am a king by birth."
"A king does not stoop to deception."
His words, his very will, seeped into the hearts of those who listened.
Then, a desperate voice rang out.
"Then please! Help us—help this country! Give us hope!"
"What choice do we have? We're already doomed!"
At those words, a bitter realization settled over the crowd.
Indeed, how could things get worse than they already were?
Even if the Pirate King himself ruled them, it wouldn't be worse than the hell they lived in now.
There was no deeper abyss to fall into.
And so, one by one, people began stepping forward—placing their last hopes on this so-called King of Heaven.
A man in the front row dropped to his knees, desperation clear in his trembling voice.
"Please, become our king! Give us hope—give this nation new life!"
"We will follow you!"
"We will pledge ourselves to your family!"
"As long as things are better than they are now—please!"
From hesitation to belief, from belief to conviction.
In the face of absolute ruin, the people made their choice.
If they were to be ruled, let it be by the one who promised hope—not by those who had driven them to despair.
And so, with tens of thousands gathered at his feet, King Caesar's will was realized.
A slow smile spread across his face as he extended his arms.
"As you wish."
"I will be crowned king!"
His voice boomed across the skies as he ascended even higher, looking down upon the kingdom below.
Then, with a mere thought, he activated his electromagnetic field, enveloping the entire island in its influence.
Beside him, Lily spread her arms, manipulating the clouds above into a massive, flat screen that stretched across the sky like a divine tapestry.
Upon it, Caesar's image was projected—visible to all.
The sudden display caught the attention of every soul on the island. Even the warring factions—both the royal army and the rebels—halted their battle, captivated by the sight.
In the palace, the false king gazed upward in awe, his heart pounding in fear.
As the world watched, Caesar's voice rang out, amplified across the kingdom.
"I... am a king from the sea."
"I have heard the cries of suffering from this land and its people!"
"And so, with the support and request of Gilmanda's citizens, I shall take the throne!"
"I will lead this nation and its people toward a new dawn!"
"I vow—no more hunger! No more suffering! No more oppression!"
His words struck deep into the hearts of the people.
They had never heard a king speak such things.
And then, Caesar made his next move.
He stretched out his hand toward the distant ocean.
And then... the sea itself began to rise.
A tremor ran through the land as an impossible spectacle unfolded—the ocean, lifting into the sky as if gravity had ceased to exist.
The water surged upward, forming a massive, swirling sea in the heavens, filled with fish, sea beasts, and even Sea Kings—all caught in its currents.
A floating ocean in the sky.
A sight so overwhelming that all who witnessed it could only stare in stunned silence.
Was this... a god?
The thought crossed every mind.
But Caesar had no need to prove divinity—only to cement his authority.
With precise control, he began lowering the creatures back to the ground.
A rain of fresh fish, sea beasts, and abundant food fell from the sky—a divine feast descending upon the starving people.
To ensure safety, he used his Haki to stun the larger creatures, preventing harm.
For the people of Gilmanda, this was nothing short of a miracle.
They had lived in darkness, hunger, and oppression for so long.
And now, from the heavens, salvation had arrived.
As the aroma of fresh seafood filled the air, the once-hopeless citizens wept in joy.
But in the royal palace, the corrupt nobles and ruling class were gripped with fear.
They had recognized him at last.
The man standing in the sky—the one commanding the heavens—
Was none other than the infamous pirate of the New World—King Caesar.
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